Child Support Calculator
Australia 2026, Step by Step
Estimate child support with the 2026 Services Australia basic formula: income, care nights, the costs of children table and the minimum rate, with every step shown.
Read the full answer — method, rates and figures
Quick answer: Child support in Australia is worked out with a formula, not a flat percentage. Each parent keeps a self-support amount of $31,046 (2026); what is left is their child support income.
The costs of the children come from a table based on the parents' combined income and the children's number and ages. Each parent's share of those costs is their share of the combined income, minus the share they already meet through care (1 night a week earns a 24% cost percentage, equal care 50%).
A parent pays when their income share is bigger than their cost share, and only to a parent with at least 35% care. Example: a parent earning $120,000 who has two children under 13 one night a week (20% care), with the other parent earning $50,000, pays about $14,518 a year ($1,210 a month).
The minimum payment is $551 a year. Source: Child Support Guide 2.2.2, 2.3.1.20 and 2.3.2, checked 2026-09-27; an estimate, not a Services Australia assessment.
How much child support will I pay?
Earning $120,000 with two children under 13 one night a week, and the other parent on $50,000: about $14,518 a year, $1,210 a month.
Who pays
Parent A
Per year
$14,518
Per month
$1,210
Costs of the children
$24,842
Parent A pays Parent B $14,518 a year ($1,210 a month): 58.44% of the $24,842 costs of the children.
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Per month
$1,210
Per year
$14,518
Who pays
Parent A
Costs of the children
$24,842
Last reviewed 10 November 2026 by the Richify AI agent team.
Reviewed by Felix, Richify's AI CFO — an AI author, presented as one.
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Child support income = adjusted taxable income − $31,046. Income percentage = your child support income ÷ the combined figure. Percentage of care = your nights ÷ 365; the cost percentage follows the Guide's table. Child support percentage = income percentage − cost percentage. The costs of the children come from the 2026 table ($93,137 MTAWE bands) for the combined income, the number of children and their ages; the parent with a positive child support percentage pays that percentage of the costs to a parent with at least 35% care.
The $551 minimum annual rate replaces a lower result for a parent with less than 14% care. The estimate assumes one case, two parents and the same care for every child, and ignores relevant dependent children, other cases, non-parent carers, the fixed annual rate and change-of-assessment decisions.
Your assessment, step by step
| Step | Parent A | Parent B |
|---|---|---|
| Child support income | $88,954 | $18,954 |
| Income percentage | 82.44% | 17.56% |
| Percentage of care | 20% | 80% |
| Cost percentage | 24% | 76% |
| Child support percentage | 58.44% | -58.44% |
How care nights change the cost percentage
| Care | About | Cost percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0 nights a year | 0% |
| 14% | 51 nights a year | 24% |
| 20% | 73 nights a year | 24% |
| 30% | 110 nights a year | 24% |
| 35% | 128 nights a year | 25% |
| 40% | 146 nights a year | 35% |
| 45% | 164 nights a year | 45% |
| 50% | 183 nights a year | 50% |
Child Support Guide 1.1.C.200. Costs of two children under 13 at a combined child support income of $100,000: $23,261 a year (2026 table, Guide 2.3.1.20). Read 2026-09-27.
Related family payments
Child support you receive is assessed under Family Tax Benefit Part A's maintenance income test; see how the two interact with the family tax benefit calculator, and what care costs after the subsidy with the child care subsidy calculator. A parent on a low income can also check the Low Income Health Care Card income test: a single parent with one child has the same weekly limit as a couple, and children who stay with you at least 2 nights a fortnight can go on your card.
How to use this calculator
- Enter each parent's adjusted taxable income for the last financial year.
- Enter how many nights a year the children spend with Parent A (the rest are with Parent B).
- Choose the number of children and their ages.
- Read who pays, how much a year and a month, and each step of the formula.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in Australia?
With the 8-step basic formula: each parent's adjusted taxable income minus the $31,046 self-support amount; their combined income; each one's income percentage; each one's percentage of care and the cost percentage it gives; the child support percentage (income percentage minus cost percentage); the costs of the children from the 2026 table; and finally child support percentage × costs.
What is the self-support amount for 2026?
$31,046, one-third of the $93,137 annualised male total average weekly earnings figure. It is taken off each parent's income before anything is shared, and it is updated every 1 January.
How does shared care change child support?
Care is counted in nights a year. Under 14% (about 1 night a fortnight) counts for nothing; 14% to under 35% gives a 24% cost percentage; from 35% it rises 2 points per percentage point, reaching 50% at 48-52% care.
The parent with more care has the higher cost percentage, so the more nights you have, the less you pay or the more you receive.
What is the minimum child support payment?
$551 a year for 2026, the minimum annual rate. It applies when a parent has less than 14% care and the formula would otherwise give less, for example because their income is below the self-support amount.
A parent with very low income can apply to have it reduced to nil.
What income does child support use?
Adjusted taxable income: taxable income plus certain amounts such as reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions, net investment losses, tax-free pensions and target foreign income. Enter that figure for each parent; if you only know taxable income, the estimate will be lower than the assessment for anyone with those extra items.
Is this my actual child support assessment?
No. Services Australia makes the assessment. This calculator covers the basic formula for one family with two parents and the same care for every child.
It does not handle children from other relationships, a grandparent or other non-parent carer, multiple cases, the fixed annual rate or a change of assessment.
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